Spring-wheel.



A. R. MISKIN.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLIOATIOK FILED 11mm, 1908.

Patented NOV. 23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.

' "INVENTOR A. R. MISKIN.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1908.

Patented N0v.23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOH WITNESSES;

- Qfi.

Urn STATES arena onnron.

ARTHUR R. MISKIN, OF IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO.

SPRING-W HEEL.

Application filed Jul 3, lac-s.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ARTHUR R. JIISKIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Idaho Falls, in the county of Bingham and State of Idaho,have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improved spring wheel for automobiles, bicycles,traction engines, and other vehicles. It is an improvement in that classof spring wheels having a flexible or elastic rim and provided withradial spokes attached to said rim and so connected with the hub,directly or indirectly, that the rim may change its form from circularto elliptical, when subjected to a load.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation of parts arehereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing inwhich- Figure l is in part a side, and in part a sectional, elevation ofthe wheel. Fig. 2 is a radial cross section of one-half of the wheel.Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the connection of the spokes with theflexible or elastic rim of the wheel. Fig. t includes a face view andcross section of the slidable bearing with which the inner ends of thespokes are connected. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modification, inwhich the said bearing is provided with anti-friction rollers. Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 1, save that the wheel is shown in the ellipticalform which it assumes when sustaining a load.

The rim K of the wheel is formed of a flat steel band and to it isattached a rubber tire M, which may be perforated longitudinally asshown in Fig. 2. The attachment may be effected by clips L which areriveted to the rim K. A series of radial spokes I are attached to rim Kby means of clips J, the connection between the spokes and the clipsbeing a pivot, as shown in several views. The parts thus far describedconstitute the exterior portion of the wheel. The inner portion of thewheel is composed of the following parts. The hub H is provided with twoannular flanges B, B (see Fig. 2), the same being inclined toward eachother at a slight angle, and their bases, which are in the form of ahorizontal flange, being riveted to the hub. To these flanges B, B, areattached grooved bars C which Specification of Letters Patent.

are arranged radially as shown in Figs. 1

Yatented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 441,726.

and 6. There are sixteen bars corresponding to the number of spokes, onebar being provided for each spoke. Four spokes are attached to the outerside of each of the flanges B, B, and four to the inner side thereof,and they have the same inclination as the flanges, toward each other, asshown in Fig. 2. Thus the bars C are divided into sets of four. Eachspoke is attached to a stirrup-like device H which is connected with ablock E adapted to slide in the bars C. As before stated, the bars C arearranged in sets of four. The blocks which slide in such four bars areconnected by rods G, which are of equal length, and, in the normalcircular form of the wheel shown in Fig. 1 these bars form a square, orin other words, a rectangular parallelogram. The blocks of all the barsare similarly connected, as will be understood by reference to Figs. 1and 6.

It will now be apparent that if a weight or load be sustained by the hubH, the elast-icity of the rim K will allow the hub to sink and the rimthus become more or less elliptical, as shown in Fig. (5. In otherwords, the application of a load causes the flexible steel rim K toflatten on the upper and under side, while the opposite sides becomemore convex. In such operation, it is obvious that those blocks E whichslide in those bars C that are vertical, move toward each other, whilethe blocks of the bars that are horizontal, or at right angles to thefirst-named ones, move outward, as shown in Fig. 6, this movement beingdue to the thrust of the bars Gr composing the parallelogram. Thus, asthe wheel continues to revolve, its elliptical form will be maintainedas the load is borne successively by the spokes I. Thus, the severalrectangular parallelograms illustrated in Fig. 1, become successivelyoblique parallelograms or rhombi, as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to brace and stiffen the spoke guides 0, their outer portionsare connected by rings D as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6. A metal casing N isprovided for the parts immediately surrounding or connected with thehub, mainly for the purpose of excluding dust and dirt and also forprotecting the inclosed parts from contact with exterior objects. Asshown in Fig. 2, the sides of the casing incline toward each othercorrespondmg 1n essent1als to the parts 13, C,

and I, which it incloses. The spokes I slide through openings in theperiphery of the casing.

It is obvious that if the Wheel meets an obstruction in the course ofits rotation, a jar otherwise incident thereto will be mainly taken upand the wheel flattened more or less as it rolls over the obstruction.The wheel will, therefore, take up jolts, jars, or vibrations which areincident to wheels constructed in the ordinary manner, and thus not onlyis the vibration of any part of the vehicle lessened, but injury to thepneumatic or other tires iscorrespondingly lessened.

What I claim is:

'l. The improved spring wheel comprising a hub, an elastic rim, a seriesof radial spokes attached thereto, a series of radial guides rigidlyconnected with the hub and serving as guides for the inner ends of thespokes, and bars connecting the ends of spokes which are at right anglesto each other with each other, substantially as described.

2. The improved spring wheel comprising a hub, an elastic rim, radialspokes attached thereto, a series of bars radiating from the hub andcorresponding with the spokes in number and position, devices with whichthe inner ends of the spokes are connected and which slide on suchbars,rods having a jointed connection with said devices and arranged in theform of a parallelogram which is normally rectangular, but which becomesoblique when subjected to pressure, substantially as described.

3. The improved spring wheel comprising a hub, an elastic rim, radialspokes having a pivotal connection with the rim, radial guide barsrigidly connected with the hub and corresponding with the spokes innumber and position, blocks adapted to slide in said guide bars andconnected with the spokes, and a series of bars connecting the blocks insets of four, and forming normally a rectangular parallelogram whichbecomes oblique when the wheel sustains a load or meets an obstruction,as shown and described.

t. In a spring wheel of the type indicated, the combination ,with thehub and annular flanges secured thereto, of grooved bars rigidlyattached to said flanges and arranged in radial position, a ringattached to their outer ends whereby they are rigidly con nected, blocksadapted to slide in said bars, rods connecting the blocks in series offour and forming a rectangular parallelogram, spokes connected with thesaid blocks, and an elastic rim to which the outer ends of the spokesare pivotally attached, as shown and described.

5. In a wheel of the type indicated, the combination with the hub andbars rigidly connected therewith and provided with lateral grooves, ofblocks provided with antifriction rollers which are adapted to run inthe grooves of said bars, bars connecting the blocks in series of fourand arranged to form normally a rectangular parallelogram, an elasticrim, and spokes connecting it with the aforesaid blocks, as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

ARTHUR R. MISKIN.

Witnesses LEwIs TELLE CANNON, A. A. HE TZELL.

